Apparatus for moistening filling.



H. F. STRAW. APPARATUS FOR MOIS'IENING FILLING. v

APPLIOAT IOH FILED APR.2, 1908.

Patented Jan 26, 1909.

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germqmlz'lgfi ma APPLIOATION FILED APR. 2, 1908.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

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UNTTED s rn rns Pagans ossiien HERMAN F. STRAW, OF MANCHESTER, NEWHAMPSHIRE.

APPARATUS FOR MOISTENING- FILLING.

[0 all whom 'lE' may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN F. STRAW, a citizen of th United States, andresident of Manchester, county of Hillsboro, and State of New Hampshire,have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for liloistening Filling, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representinglike parts.

This invention has fo its object the production of simple apparatus forefiiciently and quickly moistening filling yarn when wound upon bobbins,in order that the filling may operate properly in the weaving operation.

It is well known that if not moistened filling retains for a long timethe kinky tendency due to its twist, and in being woven kinks are oftendrawn into the cloth, damaging the same and causing imperfections knownas kinky filling, a very serious and common cause of damaged goods. Thesocalled aging of filling to obviate this difiiculty is usuallyaccomplished by keeping the filling in a warm super-saturated atmospherefor several hours, or even days, at a time. By my invention the agingeffect is accomplished with a single and very short, simple treatment.

In aging filling by the usual methods the wooden bobbins, from longexposure to the moisture, are apt to shrink, warp and deteriorate, whileby means of my invention the exposure of the bobbins to the action ofthe moisture is so brief, and the revaporation of whatever moisture isdeposited on or inside the bobbins is so rapid and complete that thebobbins last much longer, eliminating a considerable expense account fornew bobbins.

As will appear hereinafter I have provided means whereby a very thoroughmoistening of the filling masses is effected before they are broughtinto use in the loom, so that the humidity of the Weave shed need not beso carefully watched nor maintained at such a high point as is nowcustomary.

In the apparatus embodying my invention the yarn masses are fed into aclosed chamber and carried therethrough by a suitable endless traveler,the atmosphere within the chamber being kept warm and charged with therequired amount of moisture, so that in their passage the yarn on thefilling-carriers Specification of Latters Patent.

Application filed April 2, 1908.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

Serial No. 424,712.

or bobbins will be thoroughly moistened, but without injuring thebobbins themselves.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described inthe subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in thefollowing claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filling moistening apparatusembodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is an opposite side elevationthereof, with a part of tne side and top of the chamber broken out.

In the present embodiment of my invention an elongated chamber, formedby parallel side walls 1 and a hood-like cover or top 2, is mounted onsuitable supports or legs 3, 4, shown as located at the ends and aboutthe center of the chamber, respectively. The sides are prolonged at theinlet end of the chamber, at 5, leaving below the end 6 of the hood anend opening 7, Fig. 1, to the chamber, the prolongations 5 beingconnected at their outer ends by a fiat table or rest 8. As herein shownthe end 6 of the hood has a series of o enings 9 through which sprays offinelypu verized water are introduced into the chamber, by means ofsuitable Vaporizers 10. These vaporizers may conveniently be such asshown in United States Patent No. 869945, granted November 5, 1907, toA. W. Thompson, the water being conducted from a constant level tank 11by a pipe 12 having branches 13 connected with the vaporizers, the fluidunder pressure, which may be compressed air or steam, being suppliedthrough branches from the main supply pipe 14, Fig. 1. In practice thetank 11 will be provided with a suitable float-controlled or otherdevice to maintain the water level constant, this forming no art of myinvention, the main water supp y pipe 15 leading to the tank, which alsohas an overflow 16. By means of the Vaporizers a strong current of moistair is introduced to and traverses the chamber from end to end,maintaining therein an atmosphere of such humidity that any objectsexposed thereto will be thoroughly impregnated with moisture.

I regard the location of tie va orizers at one end of the chamber to bebig. 1y important in securing the desired results by my ap- Jaratus. Theva orizers are in fact humidiers, and are user to create asupersaturated atmosphere in the chamber, and not for the purpose ofspraying or sprinkling moisture directly upon the yarn; in other wordsthe Vaporizers are not s rinklers. In order to insure a proper circuation and distribution of this su ersaturated atmosphere within thechamber f deem it to be of great importance to locate the Vaporizers atone end of the hood, as described, for otherwise there would be littleor no circulation and a relatively dead atmosphere would result, with amaterial decrease in the efficiency of the apparatus.

In order to effect a gradual movement of the material, such as bobbinsfilled with yarn, through the chamber 1 provide an endless foraminous orperforated carrier 17 preferably made of metal, and of the requisiteflexibility, the bobbins 18 being sustained on upper run 17 x of thecarrier, see Fig. 2. This carrier is sustained at the ends of thechamber by rolls 19, 20, preferably of wood, journaled in suitablebearings on the chamber, the upper run 17 X being sup orted at intervalsby a series of metallic ro is 21 also journaled on the sides of thechamber. The journals of the roll 19 are shown as mounted in adjustablebearings 22 slidable on guides 23 secured to the extensions 5 andmaintained in position by screws 24, so that the carrier may betightened or slackened as may be necessary. The roll 19 and adjacent endof the upper run of the carrier is overhung by the table or rest 8, Fig.1, so that the bobbins can be pushed off the latter onto the carrier asthe latter is moved, as will be explained, the upper run 17 X travelingin the direction of arrow 25, Fig. 2.

Metallic guard-plates 26 are secured to the sides 1 and extensions 5opposite the edges of the upper run of the carrier, to prevent unduewear and also serving to keep the run in proper position laterally as itis moved along the chamber.

As the bobbins leave the outlet end of the chamber, passing over theroll 29 they drop therefrom into a suitable box or other recep-.

tacle, partly shown at 27, Fig. 2, by means of which they can be removedin bulk to the weave shed.

The lower run of the carrier is supported at intervals by preferably.metallic rolls 28 suitably journaled in depending hangers 29.

A steam supply pipe 30, Fig. 1, extended along the side of the apparatusis provided with a series of transverse, perforated branches 31 extendedfrom one to the other side of the chamber below the upper run of thecarrier, and in practice the perforated branches serve to discharge warmmoist Vapor into the chamber, such vapor passing up through the u perrun of the carrier and permeating the fiiling masses thereon, the steamheat raising the temperature of the atmosphere under the hood to hastenand facilitate the absor tion of the moisture by the yarn.

From t e foregoing it will be seen that the atmosphere in the chamber ismaintained warm and moist, the degree of warmth and humidity beingeasily regulated by the vaporizers and the steam discharge pipe. Theyarn masses as they traverse the chamber become thoroughly and evenlymoistened to the required extent, a very great uniformity being securedinasmuch as each mass of filling is equally subjected to the action ofthe moist, warm air for the same length of time. The metallic rollswhich support and drive the carrier, the carrier itself, and the metalexposed to the action of the moist air within the chamber will be madeof copper, brass, or other non-corroding metal.

I will now describe means for conveniently effecting the positiverotation of the rolls.

Referring to Fig. 2 each of the rolls 21 has one of its journalsextended to receive a sprocket wheel 32, and similar sprocket wheels 33,34 are secured to the journals of the rolls 19 and 20 respectively, saidwheels being en aged by an endless sprocket chain 35, which drives alongits upper run, as shown, the lower run hanging slack. A large beltpulley 36 secured to the journal of roll 20 receives a belt 37 driven bya small pulley 38 on a shaft 39 mounted in suitable earings on thesupports 4, said shaft being provided with suitable fast and loosepulleys 40, 41, Fig. 1, to which oWer is transmitted by a suitable belt,not s lOWIl, from any suitable source of power. The speed of the rolls21, is reduced by belting from the small pulley 38 to the large one 36,as shown, so that the carrier is moved slowly along, giving ample timefor the yarn masses to absorb the requisite moisture in their passagethrough the chamber.

1 have found that a chamber about ten feet long and slightly over threefeet wide will give excellent results, such chamber with its hoodcontaining a large volume of the driving chain 35, and consequently ofthe warm, and moist air, though I do not limit myself to suchdimensions.

As best shown in Fig. 2 the upper run of the carrier is slightlyinclined from the inlet to the outlet end of the chamber, a drip pan 42being placed under the carrier from one to the other end thereof, tocollect any condensation water as it forms, the slope of the pan beingsufficient to cause the water collected to travel to the lower end, fromwhich it may be removed at an outlet 43.

I prefer to ositively drive the rolls 28 whic sustain t e lower run ofthe carrier, to reduce wear and prevent any dragging action, and forthis purpose the rolls 28 have attached gears 44 which mesh with likegears 45 on the journals of the adjacent rolls 21, the rolls 28 beingthereby rotated positively and at the same speed as the rolls 21 but inthe opposite direction. As there is no load on the lower run of thecarrier it is unnecessary to use as many supporting rolls as for theupper run,- and herein 1 have shown only three of the rolls 28.

It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2 that all of the mechanismfor imparting rotation to the various rolls, to drive the carrier, islocated outside the moistening chamber, in a readily accessibleposition, and that there is nothing within the chamber to interfere withthe smooth and uninterrupted passage of the yarn masses therethrough.

In apparatus heretofore designed for moistening yarn, so far as I amaware, the moisture has been introduced by means of sprinklers, whichmerely wet the surface of the yarn by sprinkling thereupon water in aspray form, and as a consequence the bobbins are discharged with theyarn masses merely wet on the surface, or for a very slight distanceinward from the surface, while the exposed portions of the woodenbobbins are thoroughly wet. The water which, in the form of water, issprinkled upon the yarn masses must afterwards be absorbed more or lessslowly imperfectly, and unequally. my apparatus, however, I create inthe chamher a supersaturated atmosphere, i. 6., a humidity ofpractically 100 per cent., supplemented by moisture in suspension in theform of fog. Furthermore, by means of the steam I increase thetemperature, the moisture from the steam at the same time tending toprevent the deficit of moisture which otherwise would result from therise in temperature. The yarn at the temperature of the room in whichthe apparatus is located enters the inclosed chamber and is exposed tothe atmosphere above specified. Owing to the difference in temperaturebetween the yarn and the atmosphere in the chamber some condensationmust at once occur in addition to the moisture directly deposited by thefog. '1 his occurs not only on the surface of the yarn but also wellbelow the surface, stimulated by the lower temperature of the innerlayers of yarn in the yarn masses.

Consequently the yarn masses leave the apparatus warm and damp insteadof being merely wet on the surface, as has been the case heretofore.

By my apparatus 1 accomplish in a few seconds precisely what theordinary process of so-called aging requires from two to three days toaccomplish in a warm, damp room, and with my apparatus the operation isso rapid that the wooden bobbin has no time to absorb moisture. Thebobbins deteriorated rapidly by warping and shrinking in the old processbecause of the alternate periods of drying and dampening to which theywere subjected, whereas by the apparatus herein described this troubleis com pletely and wholly avoided, as shown by actual results inpractice.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction andarrangement herein shown and described, as the same may be modified orrearranged in different particulars without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention as set forth in the annexed claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus of the class described,an elongated closed chamber having inlet and outlet openings at itsopposite ends, an end.- less, perforated traveling carrier extendedlengthwise of the chamber to sustain upon its upper run the yarn massesto be moistened, a series of perforated steam-discharging pipes extendedtransversely below and adjacent the upper run of the carrier, and meansto direct moistened air into the chamber above the carrier, whereby awarm, uniformly moist atmosphere is maintained and regulated in thechamber to act upon the yarn as it is moved therethrongh by the carrier.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, an elongated open-bottomchamber having inlet and outlet openings at its opposite ends, anendless, perforated traveling carrier extended lengthwise of the chambertosustain upon its upper run the yarn masses to be moistened, a seriesof perforated steam-discharging pipes extended transversely below andadjacent the upper run of the carrier, means adjacent the inlet of thechamber to direct moistened air into the chamber above the carrier,whereby a warm, moist and supersaturated atmos here is maintainedsubstantially uniform in the chamber to act upon the yarn as it is movedtherethrough by the carrier, and a drip pan located below the carrier tocollect water of condensation formed in the chamber.

3. In an ap aratus of the class described, an elongated c iamber havinginlet and outlet openings at its opposite ends, an endless, perforatedtraveling carrier extended lengthwise of the chamber to sustain upon itsupper run the yarn masses to be moistened, a series of perforatedsteam-discharging pipes extended transversely below and adjacent theupper run of the carrier, a series of Vaporizers located at one end andabove the inlet of the chamber, and supplies of water and of fluid underpressure operatively connected with the Vaporizers, the latter directingmoistened air to the chamber above the carrier and creating anddistributing throughout the chamber a supersaturated and substantiallyuniform atmosphere.

4. In an a paratus of the class described, an elongated closed chamberhaving inlet and outlet openings at its opposite ends and an 0 enbottom, an endless, perforated trave ing carrier extended lengthwise ofthe chamber at the open bottom thereof to sustain upon its upper run theyarn masses to be moistened, means at or near the bottom of y thechamber to warm the contents of the Q chamber, and means to continuouslyintroduce moistened air into and circulate it throughout the chamberabove the carrier whereby a moist, Warm atmosphere is m aintained in thechamber.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, an elongated closed chamber,an endless, traveling, foraminous carrier therein to sustain upon itsupper run the material to be moistened, means to introduce jets of moistair into the chamber at one end thereoi above the carrier, and steaminlets located at intervals below the upper run of the carrier, todirect steam through the upper run into the chamber and raise thetemperature thereof.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, an elongated chamber closedat its sides and top and having inlet and outlet openings at its ends,an endless foraminous carrier therein to sustain upon its upper runfilling masses to be moistened, separate and positively driven series ofrolls to sustain and effect longitudinal movement of the upper and lowerruns of the carrier, respectively, means to introduce at one end of thechamber and above the carrier Water in finely pulverized condition, andmeans to maintain the moist air wlthm the chamber at desiredtemperature.

7. In apparatus of the class described, an elongated covered chamber, anendless, foraminous carrier longitudinally movable therein, to supportand carry through the chamber the yarn masses to be moistened, means todirect moist air to the chamber at its inlet-end above the carrier, andsteam inlets located below the upper run of the carrier, the yarn massesbeing placed on the carrier at one end of the chamber and dischargedautomatically from the carrier at the opposite end of the chamber,combined with separate sets of rolls to support the upper and lowerruns, respectively, of the carrier, and means to positively rotate therolls of the separate sets, in opposite directions, whereby both runsare positively driven.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HERMAN F. STRAVV. Witnesses:

ARTHUR A. SHAFTER, E ABE H R- QBB S N-

